Reverse-controlled operating mechanism



March 11, 1930. c, SHERMAN 1,749,783

REVERSE CONTROLLED OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 27. 3.928 3 Sheets-Sheet l elf/ 01410430,

LB 3 7T March 11, 1930. c, SHERMAN 7 1,749,783

REVERSE CONTROLLED OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Sept- 27. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 amen tot March 11, 1930. D. c. SHERMAN REVERSE CONTROLLED OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 27. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet Patented Mar. 11 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DELMAR O. SHERMAN, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAMSPORT V 1 WIRE ROPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA REVERSE-CONTROLLED OPERATING MECHANTSM Application filed September 27, 1928.

This invention relates to an operating mechanism such as used, for example, for

operating the latch of the bucket of an overhead carrier, one of the objects being to provide a mechanism of this type adapted to be automatically actuated when the movement of the carrier is reversed.

Heretofore it has been the practice, when operating an overhead carrier or aerial tramway, to propel the carrier to a point where the bulk material is to be delivered'whereupon a separate means provided for that purpose is actuated to release the load. The present invention is designed to convey the load to a point where it is to be discharged and then, by reversing the movement of the carrier, the load will be released automaticall A further object is to provide mechanism of this character which is simple and compact in construction, will be reset automatically, and will operate positively and effectively at any selected point of unloading.

With the foregoing andother objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and m the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown. In said drawings,

V Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a portion of a cableway carrier or aerialtramway having thepresent improvement combined therewith, the cover plate of the housing being removed and the mechanism being shown in one position. I I

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the mechanism in another, position.

Figure 3 is a view partly in top plan and partly in section of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4; is a plan view of the slide bar.

' Figure 5 is an end elevation of the outer guide, a portion being in section.

Serial No. 308,864.

Figure 6 is an'end elevation of the inner guide.

F igure 7 is a section on line 77, Figure 2.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, '1 designates one end portion of the truck or body portion of an aerial tramway or cableway carrier, the same including a housing 2 which, as shown in Figure 3, may be provided with a removable cover plate 3 adapted to be bolted or otherwise connected to a flange 4: or the like extending from the housing. The body or truck of the carrier can be provided with track sheaves located wherever desired. Inasmuch as the specific construction of the body or truck of the carrier constitutes no part of the present invention, the same has not been shown nor will it be described in detail.

One of the track sheaves has been indicated at 5 and this particular sheave has a gear 6 rotatable therewith meshing with a smaller gear 7 secured to a shaft 8 which is journaled within and extends transversely of the housing, there being a bearing plate 9 extended across that side of the housing normally closed bythe cover plate 3. The shaft 8 is journaled at one end in this plate and has secured to it within the housing 2, a gear 10. Gear 10 meshes with a large gear 11 secured to a shaft 12 extending transversely of the housing and journaled in the bearing plate 9 and in the far side of the housing. Rotatable with this gear 11 is an eccentric or camlS.

Bolted or otherwise secured to the outer end of the housing 2 is an outer guide 14' having an angular opening 15. From one side of this guide extends a sleeve 16 containing a coiled spring 17, one end of which bears against a detent which can be in the form of a ball 18, while the other end is engaged by an adjusting screw 19 extending into the sleeve. By means of this screw the compression of thespring can be regulated. The ball detent normally projects into the opening 15 as shown in Figure 5.

Bolted'or otherwise connected to the inner end of the housing 2 is an inner guide including a base 20 provided with an opening 21 corresponding with the opening 15 in the outer guide. Extending from the base at opposite sides of the opening 21 areguide flanges 22 having inclined shoulders 23 extending toward each other and spaced apart to provide a slot 24.

A part of the mechanism to be actuated is indicated at 25 this being in the form of a cable which can be extended to the latch of a bucket or the like,-not shown. Or it can be a rod or other device designed to shift some element other than a latch, this all depending on the nature of the structure with which this mechanism is used. In the present instance cable or rope 25 is attached to an arm 26 extending from a sleeve 27. which is mounted for rotation on a bearing pin 28. Another arm 29 extends from this sleeve and is connected by a link 30 to a truck lever 31 extending from a sleeve 32. This sleeve is journaled on a pin 33 carried by the truck'and by a bracket 34 secured to the truck, there being an arm 35 carried by the sleeve to which is pivotally attached a push bar 36. This push bar is slidable within the slot 24 in the inner guide and has a pin 37 extending therethrough and bearing at its ends on the inclined shoulder 23 under normal conditions.

The end portions of a slide 38 are mounted in the openings 15 and 21 in the respective guides and the intermediate portion of this slide is offset both downwardly and laterally as Will be seen by referring to Figures 1, 2 and 4. Thus this intermediate portion of the slide i will extend under the shaft 12 but is disposed laterally out of the path of the cam or eccentric 13. Spaced shoulders are provided at the ends of the oii'set portion 39 of the slide, these shouldersbeing indicated at 40 and pivotally connected to and straddling the shoulders isa dog 41 having a roller 42 or slide so that these dogs can thus be supported inline with the end portions of the slide.

Assuming that the sheave 5 is rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2 and that the latch or other elements controlled by therope 25 is in holding posh tion, it will be noted that motion will be transmitted from the sheave 5 through the gears to the eccentric 13 which will rotate in the same direction as the sheave. At this time the slide 38 is positioned with the ball detent 18 pressing in one ofa'pairof depres- 'sions 44 in the slide 38 and the inner end .of

the slide is in engagement with the end of the push bar 36. As the eccentric '13 rotates once during each rotation of the eccentric. When the carrier reaches the point where the mechanism controlled by the rope 25 is to be actuated, said carrier is brought to a stop and is moved in the opposite direction or,' in other, 7

words back toward the point from which it came. Immediately thereafter the eccentric 13 and the sheave 5 will rotate in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Figure 2 with the result that the eccentric will first lower the dog 41 at the right. in Figure 2 and then swing'upwardly under the other dog and lift it. As therotation of the eccentric continues it will come against the roller of the right-hand dog in Figure 2 and thrust it towardthe right. This action will I follow the movement of the eccentric from.

the positionsshown in Figure 1. The thrust thus exerted by the, eccentric will cause the slide 38 to be shifted to the right in Figure 2 until the ball detent 18 becomes seated in the other notch or depression 44. As the slide 38 the push bar out of the path'of the slide 38.

As soon as the push bar is lifted out of said path the armsand levers aswell as the rope 25 will all return to their normal positions and the push bar will shift to the left and ride on tothe adjacent end of the slide 38 as shown in Figure 1. The mechanism controlled by the push bar isleft free so that the latch or other element cont-rolled by-the rope 25 can be allowed to snap to fastening position after 7 the load has been-dumped. The parts re- 7 main in these relative positions until the carrier reaches its original point of starting where it can again be subjected to'a load and started back toward the left in Figure 1 toward the point of delivery. At the beginning of this movement the sheave 5 and the eccentrio 13 will rotate as indicated in Figurev 2. The eccentric will first thrust against the left hand dog '41, push the slide 38 toward the left where it will be engaged and held by the detent18, and'withdraw one end of the slide from under'the pushbar which will promptly drop to the position shown in Figure 2. Continued rotation of the eccentric-13' will cause it to come against and lift the right hand dog 41 as shown in Figure 2. Theparts will remain in thesepositio'ns until the carrier reaches the "point where the 1 dumping action is to take place whereupon the operation already described will be repeated.

It is to-be understood that an aerial tramway or cableway carrier equipped with mechanism such as described maybe loaded at one point caused to travel away from this loading station, and at any point on its course the load may be dumped at the will of the operator merely by reversing the carrier and starting it back toward the point of loading. Thus far the principaluse of a device of this type hasbeen for piling refuse material that is to be disposed of or in distributing loose bulk material of various kinds. Importance is attached to the fact that no adjustments or changes are needed to efiect discharge of materials at any desired point or points, it only being necessary to run the carrier out as far as the point of dumping and to then reverse it.

Vhile the structure described and illustrated is designed primarily for operating the latch of a bucket or the like supported by an overhead carrier, it is to be understood that it can be employed wherever any mechanism is to be actuated by the reversal of the carrier supporting it.

By providing the structure illustrated relative movement of a supported bucket and the trucks due to change of angle, will not result in actuation of the latch. The hanger H supporting the bucket is pivotally connected to the carrier at 72. and is free to swing relative to the carrier. Ordinarily this movement would result in actuation of the latch, In the present instance, however, the parts 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31 are so proportioned that when the mechanism is in unlatched position the point of connection between lever 31 and link 30 is in line with the axis of the hanger H.

Thus, when the hanger swings relative to the carrier, the lever 31 will swing about its point of connection with the link .30. When the mechanism is in latched position the point of connection between link 30 and arm 29 will be brought into alinement with the axis h of hanger H so that diving relative swinging movement or" the hanger and carrier the lever 31 and link 30 canswing about said point of connection. Consequently when in either of these two positions the relative movement of the hanger H and the carrier will not result in actuation of the rope 25.

sheave when the direction of movement of the carrier is reversed, and means operated by the slide for shifting said member.

2. The combination with a carrier including a track sheave, of a movable member supported by the carrier, a slide operated by the sheave when the direction of movement of the carrier is reversed, and means operated by the slide for successively shifting and releas ing said member.

3. The combination with a carrier includfng a track sheave, of a movable member supported by the carrier, a slide operated by the sheave, and means operated by the slide at the commencement of its movement in one direction for shifting said member and, at the commencement of its movement in the opposite direction, for resetting the shiftable means.

4. The combination with a carrier including a track sheave, of a movable member supported by the carrier, a slide operated by the sheave, and means operated by the slide at the commencement of its movement in one direction for successively shifting and releasing said member and, at the commencement or" its movement in the opposite direction, for resetting the shiftable means.

5, The combination with a carrier includ ing a track sheave, of a movable member supported by the carrier, a slide, means operated by the sheave when the direction of movement of the carrier is reversed, for shifting the slide, and means operated by the slide for actuating the movable member.

6. The combination with a carrier including a track sheave, of a movable member supported by the carrier, a slide, means operated by the sheave when the direction of movement of the carrier is reversed, for shifting the slide, and means operated by the slide for successively actuating and releasing the movable member.

7. The combination with a carrier including a track sheave, of a movable member supported by the carrier, a slide, means operated by the sheave at the commencement of the movement of the carrier in one direction, for shifting the slide, means actuated by the slide for operating the movable member, and means for automatically uncoupling the slide from the means operated thereby during said movement of the slide to release the movable member.

8. The combination with a carrier including a track sheave, of a movable member supported by the carrier, a slide, a push bar pivotally mounted for transmitting motion from the'slide to the movable member, means operated by the sheaves when rotated in one direction for shifting the slide during the first portion of said rotation thereby to thrust the push bar and actuatethe movable memher, and means cooperating with the push bar for shifting it out of the path of the slide during said movement thereby to release the movable member.

9. The combination with a carrier including a track sheave, of a movable member supported by the carrier, a slide, a push bar pivotally mounted for transmitting motion from the slide to the movable member, means operated by the sheave when rotated in one direction for shifting the slide during the first portion of said rotation thereby to thrust the push bar and actuate the movable memher, and means cooperating with the push bar for shifting it out of the path of the slide during said movement thereby to release the movable member, said means including a structure having an inclined surface, and

means on the push bar adapted to ride along said surface to shift the push bar out of the.

path of said slide.

10. The combination with a carrier 1ncluding a track sheave, of a movable mem-' ber supported by the carrier, a slide, an eccentric actuated by the sheave, spaced means movably connected to the-slide for alternate engagement by the eccentric to transmit thrust therefrom to the slide at the commencement' of the rotation of the sheave in either direction, means actuated by the slide when moved in one direction for successively shifting and releasing the movable member, said slide being shiftable in the opposite direction to replace it in operative relation with the means actuated thereby.

11. The combination with a carrier including a track sheave, of a movable member supported by the carrier, a slide, an eccentric actuated by the sheave, spaced means movably connected to the slide for alternate engagement by the eccentric to transmit thrust therefrom to the slide at the commencement of the rotation of the sheave in either direction, means actuated by the slide when moved in one direction for successively v shifting and releasing the movable member, said slide being shiftable in the opposite direction to replace it in operative relation with the means actuated thereby, and yielding means for holding the slide in either of its two extreme positions.

12. The combination with a carrier inopposite direction, to lift the last named dog and thrust through the first named dog against the slide, and means operated by the by the slide independently of the swinging movement of said member, forshifting the 7 up member when the direction of movement of the carrier is reversed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

DELMARC. SHERMAN.

slide during itsv movement in one direction.

for actuating the movable member.

13. The combination with a carrier I including a track sheave, of a movable member supported by the carrier, a slide, oppositely disposed dogs pivotally connected to the slide and normally extended toward each other, a rotatable member movable by the sheave and adapted, during the commencement of the rotation of the sheave in one direction to successively lift one of thedogs and to thrust through the other dog against the slide and, during the commencement of rotation in the opposite direction, to lift the last named dog and thrust through the first named dog against the slide, and means operated by the slide during its movement in one direction for. successively actuating and releasing the movable member, said slide being shiftable in the I 

